Shipping-crate.



No. 800,713. PATENTED OCT. 3, 1905. B. K. BOYD. SHIPPING CRATE.

AFPLIGATION FILED OUT. 31. 1904.

7 7 6 t Inucutnr UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BERTRON K. BOYD, OF MOUNT PLEASANT, MICHIGAN.

SHIPPING-CRATE.

7 Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 3, 1905.

Application filed October 31, 1904. Serial No. 230,653.

Pleasant, county of Isabella, State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Shipping-Crates, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention has for its object a novel shipping-crate disclosed in the following specification and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a view in perspective illustrating features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail view showing parts in elevation. Fig. 3 is an inverted plan view. Fig. 4 shows the crate in a collapsed and folded condition. Fig. 5 is a view in section illustrating the method of hinging the bottom of the crate to one of the side slats.

More particularly my invention is designed to provide a folded shipping-crate which may be readily collapsed and set up for use, the same being of superior economy and utility.

My improved crate consists, essentially, of side, end, and bottom portions, the side portions being provided with upright cornerpost-s, (indicated at (0,) said posts formed with round tenons (indicated at b) at each extremity thereof, said tenons being formed, preferably, integrally with the post and to serve as hinges or pivots. The end portions of the crate are formed with top bars (indicated at c) and with bottom bars, (indicated at (L) the top and bottom bars 0 (Z being formed with orifices (indicated at c) to fit over the corresponding ten-.

ons or pivots upon the corresponding uprights of the side portions of the crate, the construction being such that the side portions and end portions, respectively, have a jointed engagement the one with the other. The formation of the upright posts with the tenons or pivots and the top and bottom bars 0 d with the orifices into which said tenons may enter diminishes the cost of construction over other forms of construction heretofore employed. At the bottom or lower ends of the upright posts the tenons are constructed, preferably, to project through the corresponding orifices of the lower bars (Z, as indicated more particularly in Fig. 2, while at the top said tenons or pivots preferably project only a part way through the corresponding orifices e in the bars 0. This construction enables the projecting tenons at the base of the crate to fit simply twisted together.

into the corresponding holes or orifices in the bars a of an ad acent crate when the crates are set one on top of another, by which means the crates so placed one upon another are thereby prevented from sliding off one from the other when they are piled up in storage or in crates. Another feature of my invention relates more particularly to the method of securing the bottom of the crate in place and of locking the bottom in set-up position.

It will be understood that the side and end portions of the crate have, in addition to the posts and bars above described, slats attached to corresponding posts and to corresponding bars. The bottom of the crate also consists of a series of slats f, having end cross-bars g. Upon the center slat is a swinging cross-bar h, the same being shown pivoted, as at z', to the corresponding bottom slat, one end of the swinging cross-bar projecting over a side slat, as indicated at 1', to lock the bottom in set-up position. This bottom portion (indicated at k) is preferab y hinged to the corresponding side slat Z by passing a flexible piece of wire through one of the marginal slats of the bottom portion and through the adjacent side slat Z, as indicated at m, the ends of the wire being This form of binge is obviously of cheap construction and may be quickly applied, the wire being passed through the corresponding parts of the crate and twisted up with the fingers in an economical and rapid manner.

When it is desired to collapse the crate, the

swinging bar it is removed out of engagement with the corresponding slat of one of the side portions of the crate, and the bottom may then be folded inward in vertical position, allowing the side and end portions of the crate to be folded together, as indicated more particularly in Fig. 4:.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. In a folding crate, side portions arranged to fold one toward the other, each constructed with upright posts at its extremities formed with pivotal tenons at the upper and lower ends thereof, and with horizontal side slats secured upon the outer surfaces of the corresponding upright posts, end portions arranged to fold toward the folded side portions and each formed with upper and lower transverse horizontal bars formed with orifices at their extremities, to fit upon the corresponding tenons of the adjacent upright corner-posts and with vertical end slats secured upon the upright surfaces of the corresponding hori- ICC zontal bars, and the movable bottom portion l arranged to be folded up against one of the folded side portions.

2. In afolding crate side portions constructed with upright corner-posts each having pivotal tenons at its extremities, end portions formed with upper and lower transverse bars each formed with orifices at its extremities to fit upon the corresponding tenons of the adjacent upright corner-posts, said crate provided with a bottom portion, the tenons at the lower extremities of said corner-posts projecting through and beyond the orifices in the corresponding lower transverse bars, and the tenons at the upper extremities of said cornerposts passing only part way through the orifice of the corresponding upper transverse bars, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. lnafolding crate, side portions arranged to fold one toward the other, each constructed. with upright posts at its extremities, formed with pivotal tenons at the upper and lower ends thereof, and'with horizontal side slats secured upon the outer surfaces of the corresponding upright posts, end portions arranged to fold toward the folded side portions and each formed with upper and lower transverse horizontal bars formed with orifices at their extremities, to fit upon the corresponding tenons of the adjacent upright corner-posts and with vertical end slats secured upon the upright surfaces of the corresponding horizontal bars, a bottom portion, and hinges passed through the lower edges of one of the side portions and the adjacent edge of the bottom portion.

4c. Ina folding crate side portions constructed with upright corner-posts each having pivotal tenons at its extremities and with hori- Zontal slats secured to said posts, end portions formed with upper and lower transverse bars, each formed with orifices at its extremities to fit upon the corresponding tenons of the adjacent upright corner-posts and with vertical slats secured to said bars, and a movable bottom portion, the tenons at one of the extremities of said corner-posts projecting through and beyond the orifices in the corresponding transverse bars, and the tenons at the opposite extremities of said corner-posts passing only part way through the orifices of the corresponding transverse bars.

5. In afolding crate side portions constructed with upright corner-posts each having pivotal tenons at its extremities, end portions formed with upper and lower transverse bars each formed with orifices at its extremities to fit upon the corresponding tenons of the adjacent upright corner-posts, and a bottom portion. the tenons at one of the extremities of said corner-posts projecting through and beyond the orifices in the corresponding transverse bars, and the tenons at the opposite extremities of said corner-posts passing only part way through the orifices of the corresponding transverse bars.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subseribing witnesses.

BERTRON K. BOYD.

Witnesses:

N. S. WRIGHT, M. L. SIMMONS. 

